Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties (MLATs)

Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties (MLATs) are agreements between countries that facilitate cooperation in criminal investigations and prosecutions. When one country needs help gathering evidence or information from another country, an MLAT provides a legal framework for requesting and sharing this assistance. This can include things like obtaining witness statements, accessing financial records, or conducting searches. MLATs help ensure that countries work together to address cross-border crime, like drug trafficking or terrorism, while respecting legal processes and the rights of individuals involved.